John Lewis: A great warrior who never raised his hand

[_MeDotOrg]

I got to know John Lewis in David Halberstam's book The Children, which is a great book about the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Lewis grew up dirt-poor. The image that has always stayed with me: He used to preach to the chickens he was feeding in the yard.

He spent his life trying to help The United States live up to the Declaration of Independence. Beaten within an inch of his life more than once, he never raise a hand, but never backed down.

Thank you Mr. Lewis, for your example and your service.

[_moksha]

Just read an article about renaming that famous bridge in Selma Alabama after Lewis, rather than it currently being named after a Confederate general and Klu Klux Klan leader. That should get them up in arms in Alabama. Maybe even score some Dixie points for Trump if he opposed this change.

[_Jersey Girl]

MeDot I ordered the book today based on your post. It sounds like something with great appeal to me. Thank you and...

RIP John Lewis.

[_Jersey Girl]

I got to know John Lewis in David Halberstam's book The Children, which is a great book about the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Lewis grew up dirt-poor. The image that has always stayed with me: He used to preach to the chickens he was feeding in the yard.

He spent his life trying to help The United States live up to the Declaration of Independence. Beaten within an inch of his life more than once, he never raise a hand, but never backed down.

Thank you Mr. Lewis, for your example and your service.

When I hear about losses like this or read a post like you made here, I start thinking about how we are losing our visionaries;our leading lights. And, shortly thereafter I realize it's up to all of us to be the visionaries and leading lights in the world in our every day actions, conversations, and our political decisions. I've tried for most of my adult life to be the change that I wanted to see in the world and interact positively, take time to speak to people, show gratitude, lend folks a hand, and advocate when I think it's needed. These thoughts and losses, and what feels like a watershed moment in our country, deeply affects and motivates me to try to do more and be more, and not ignore the opportunity to be in the moment with someone.

There is a chronic lack of empathy in our society. We can change that. I know we can.

[_subgenius]

Has anyone compiled a brief list of Lewis's legislative accomplishments yet? Such a long tenure in Congress and so many awards, surely it would be of great interest here.

[_Chap]

Has anyone compiled a brief list of Lewis's legislative accomplishments yet? Such a long tenure in Congress and so many awards, surely it would be of great interest here.

Let me break it to you gently ... the worth of an elected representative in a democratic country is not usually measured by counting the number of new laws that they have been instrumental in getting passed.

I mean, there are 435 of them in the House. It isn't even desirable that they should all be squirrelling away at law-making - if they all got one major act passed, the country would be drowning in new laws.

Of course, you were just looking for what you thought would be an easy sneer at a black man who was elected after a life of struggle you could not even imagine, so count yourself lucky that anybody replies to you at all.

[_Gunnar]

Let me break it to you gently ... the worth of an elected representative in a democratic country is not usually measured by counting the number of new laws that they have been instrumental in getting passed.

I mean, there are 435 of them in the House. It isn't even desirable that they should all be squirrelling away at law-making - if they all got one major act passed, the country would be drowning in new laws.

Of course, you were just looking for what you thought would be an easy sneer at a black man who was elected after a life of struggle you could not even imagine, so count yourself lucky that anybody replies to you at all.

Excellent response, Chap! One of the best and most devastating putdowns of subby I have seen yet! Congratulations!

[_subgenius]

Has anyone compiled a brief list of Lewis's legislative accomplishments yet? Such a long tenure in Congress and so many awards, surely it would be of great interest here.

Let me break it to you gently ... the worth of an elected representative in a democratic country is not usually measured by counting the number of new laws that they have been instrumental in getting passed.

I mean, there are 435 of them in the House. It isn't even desirable that they should all be squirrelling away at law-making - if they all got one major act passed, the country would be drowning in new laws.

Of course, you were just looking for what you thought would be an easy sneer at a black man who was elected after a life of struggle you could not even imagine, so count yourself lucky that anybody replies to you at all.

I recall typing "interest", who said anything about worth?

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Inb4 MDB racewar thread #2345 kicks off:

https://youtu.be/Ev373c7wSRg

- Doc

[_Gunnar]

Has anyone compiled a brief list of Lewis's legislative accomplishments yet? Such a long tenure in Congress and so many awards, surely it would be of great interest here.

Why didn't you just do that yourself, and honor him by highlighting some of his most noteworthy achievements, instead of posting what could easily be construed, or, if you will, misconstrued as a snarky, racist and demeaning remark about a famous, influential and much respected black guy? After all, wasn't he one of your own? Don't you take some measure of pride in his notable accomplishments? Do you dispute his courage and the worthiness of the cause for which he demonstrated, and was almost murdered?